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May 1, 2001 

McKEON 'FED UP' WITH REGULATIONS

Education and the Workforce Subcommittee Chair Launches 'FED. UP' Campaign Aimed At Regulations that Add Cost to Higher Education WASHINGTON -- U.S. Rep. Howard P. "Buck" McKeon, R-Santa Clarita, today launched a bipartisan campaign to end federal micromanagement of colleges by urging higher education institutions to identify regulations that ought to be repealed or relaxed.

In a speech today to the American Council on Education meeting here, McKeon, chairman of the House Subcommittee on 21st Century Competitiveness, announced an initiative titled "Upping the Effectiveness of our Federal Student Aid Programs," or "FED. UP."

"Our goal will be to streamline the current regulatory system to the extent possible, while maintaining or improving program integrity," McKeon told the educators.

"Federal education money does little good if it is spent on complying with federal regulations.

"The best teachers in the nation do little good if they are spending their time filling out forms," McKeon added. "It's is time for a change. It is time to put cooperation in place of confrontation. It is time to let you do your jobs and educate our children." McKeon said FED.

UP is being launched with the support of Rep. Patsy Mink, D-Hawaii, the ranking Democrat on the 21st Century Competitiveness Subcommittee. He likened the approach they will take to McKeon's 1998 Higher Education Act Amendments, which streamlined the financial aid delivery system, increased Pell Grant authorizations and cut the student loan interest rate to the lowest level in 17 years.

McKeon asked participants at the American Council on Education to identify specific regulations are "needless or overly burdensome, and to "bring some sense to the regulations that your members must deal with on a daily basis." McKeon said he and Rep. Mink will be sending educators a message soliciting their input on regulations, and urging them to identify regulations that ought to be repealed or changed.

He said President Bush's Secretary of Education, Rod Paige, will be a "valued" partner in this effort. "Our new Education Secretary is helping to change the tone in Washington to one of working together in a bipartisan way to improve education for all," McKeon said.

McKeon said he has "full faith" in Paige's ability to implement good suggestions through the regulatory process. For those changes that require new legislation, McKeon said he will introduce a Higher Education Technical Amendments bill later in the year, based on input he receives from educators.

"I look forward to working with Secretary Paige, with my colleagues in Congress, and most of all with you and your memberships to make the necessary changes, and to let you do your jobs with less interference," McKeon said.